Multiple element laser pumping chamber

Abstract

A multi-element, uniformly pumped laser includes a plurality of laser medium elements, a pumping means, a highly reflective reflector and an output coupler. The pumping means includes at least one pumping element which simultaneously excites at least two of the laser medium elements. An alternate uniformly pumped ring laser and an alternate uniformly pumped laser amplifier are also disclosed.

I claim: 
     
       1. A laser pumping chamber comprising: a plurality of at least three laser medium elements each having two opposed ends and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween, the longitudinal axes of the plurality of laser medium elements being in mutually parallel relation; and   pumping means for causing the plurality of laser medium elements to emit a beam, the pumping means including at least one pumping element for simultaneously pumping three of the plurality of laser medium elements, the at least one pumping element having a longitudinal axis oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the plurality of laser medium elements;   whereby differences between the excitation of separate ones of said plurality of laser medium elements due to variations in the output of said at least one pumping element are minimized.   
     
     
       2. The laser pumping chamber of claim 1, wherein the longitudinal axes of the plurality of laser medium elements are substantially coplanar. 
     
     
       3. The laser pumping chamber of claim 2, wherein the plurality of laser medium elements have a substantially equal transverse spacing. 
     
     
       4. The laser pumping chamber of claim 1, wherein the pumping means comprises a plurality of pumping elements each having a longitudinal axis oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the plurality of laser medium elements, each of the plurality of pumping elements being configured to simultaneously excite at least three of the plurality of laser medium elements. 
     
     
       5. The laser pumping chamber of claim 4, wherein at least one of the plurality of pumping elements simultaneously pumps all of the plurality of laser medium elements. 
     
     
       6. The laser pumping chamber of claim 4, wherein the plurality of pumping elements each comprise an optical pumping element. 
     
     
       7. The laser pumping chamber of claim 6, wherein the optical pumping elements comprise arc lamps. 
     
     
       8. The laser pumping chamber of claim 1, wherein the plurality of laser medium elements comprises solid-state laser medium elements. 
     
     
       9. The laser pumping chamber of claim 1, wherein the plurality of laser medium elements comprises a plurality of laser medium element groups, the laser medium elements within each group being substantially coplanar thereby defining a corresponding plurality of planes. 
     
     
       10. The laser pumping chamber of claim 9, wherein the plurality of planes are substantially mutually parallel. 
     
     
       11. The laser pumping chamber of claim 9, wherein the laser medium elements within each of the plurality of laser medium element groups have an equal transverse spacing. 
     
     
       12. The laser pumping chamber of claim 9, wherein the plurality of laser medium elements are disposed in a rectilinear array of intraplanar rows and interplanar columns. 
     
     
       13. The laser pumping chamber of claim 1, wherein the at least one pumping element simultaneously pumps each of the plurality of laser medium elements by a substantially equal amount. 
     
     
       14. A laser pumping chamber comprising: an optically transparent solid including a plurality of mutually parallel laser medium element bores and at least one pumping element bore oriented perpendicular to the plurality of laser medium element bores;   a plurality of laser medium elements for emitting a beam housed in the plurality of laser medium element bores; and   at least one pumping element, housed in the at least one pumping element bore, for simultaneously pumping at least two of the plurality of laser medium elements.   
     
     
       15. The laser pumping chamber of claim 14, wherein the plurality of laser medium element bores are substantially coplanar. 
     
     
       16. The laser pumping chamber of claim 15, wherein the transverse spacing of the plurality of laser medium element bores are substantially equal. 
     
     
       17. The laser pumping chamber of claim 14, wherein the plurality of laser medium elements comprise solid-state laser medium elements. 
     
     
       18. The laser pumping chamber of claim 14, wherein the at least one pumping element comprises an arc lamp. 
     
     
       19. The laser pumping chamber of claim 14, wherein the at least one pumping element bore comprises a plurality of mutually parallel pumping element bores each housing a pumping element. 
     
     
       20. The laser pumping chamber of claim 19, wherein each of the plurality of pumping elements simultaneously pumps a plurality of laser medium elements. 
     
     
       21. The laser pumping chamber of claim 19, wherein at least one of the plurality of pumping elements simultaneously pumps all of the plurality of laser medium elements. 
     
     
       22. A method for simultaneous pumping of plural laser elements, the method comprising: providing a plurality of laser medium elements each having a first end, a second end, and a central longitudinal axis extending therebetween, the plurality of laser medium elements being disposed with their respective central longitudinal axes in mutually parallel and coplanar relation;   providing at least one pumping element having a central longitudinal axis oriented perpendicular with respect to the central longitudinal axes of the plurality of laser medium elements; and   supplying a predetermined electrical signal to the at least one pumping element to cause the at least one pumping element to simultaneously pump the plurality of laser medium elements;   whereby differences between the excitation of separate ones of said plurality of laser medium elements due to variations in the output of said at least one pumping element are minimized.